Hartford Line CtDOT New Haven-Springfield - NHHS (Before Launch of Service)

This thread needs more pictures. Everybody loves pictures. But when they say "Hartford Line", where will that line start? Only New Haven? Or will some go to (or be extensions of) Stamford?
{EDIT: map is now clickable; takes you to nhhsrail source page}

Nice picture, thanks!

But if we follow current tradition, a commuting line will be named where it ends (Danbury, Waterbury, New Caanan). Accordingly, this should be called "The Springfield Line".

The Danbury bomb sometimes (or used to) have a final stop in Stamford, but it would be sacreligious to refer to it as "the Stamford Line". Methinks that should be the case here as well.

My question is narrower: Will the Hartford Line always require a change at New Haven or is there some provision for "through routing" (of what, today, would be New Haven trains or their slots) that would allow a one seat ride from Hartford to, say, Stamford, or GCT?

I would guess that the service would be similar to the Shore Line East service: most trains terminate in New Haven, with a cross-platform change to a WB train to GCT and some rush hour trains run through to Bridgeport and Stamford. Most likely there won't be through service to GCT without changing trains unless Metro-North got the contract to operate the service, which is highly doubtful. As has been mentioned before on other threads here, the future "Hartford Line" rolling stock (the ex-VRE coaches) can't operate into GCT since they have manual doors. And ConnDOT has no dual mode diesels that aren't either in pool service with MNCR already, or that aren't 70 year old rusting hulks. And even if MNCR got the contract, there isn't enough of their rolling stock and dual modes kicking around to press into Hartford Line service.

Regarding stations, where on earth would they put one in Hamden? The former North Haven station site (where CT 40 crosses the line) is about as close as you're going to get. And according to I-91 signage for Exit 10, there's still a train station there. Of course it hasn't been since the 80s.

shadyjay wrote:Regarding stations, where on earth would they put one in Hamden? The former North Haven station site (where CT 40 crosses the line) is about as close as you're going to get. And according to I-91 signage for Exit 10, there's still a train station there. Of course it hasn't been since the 80s.

I think that depends on what land use they're picturing. Pure "park-and-ride" favors the empty parking lot @ CT 40. "Transit Oriented Development" would seem to go anywhere along the line that was not swamps and they had parcel owners willing to tear down their industrial/warehouse stuff and put a new "Town Center" development.

The Environmental Analysis indicated a North Haven/Hamden station at the Devine Street crossing next to route 40. This was the site of the short-lived Amtrak station, which was only open from 1980 to 1986. The 2004-era studies disagreed on parking arrangement at North Haven but otherwise were pretty consistent.

The new study might be to throw that up against a Route 5 / North Haven Center alternative. The Devine Road location has prime access from 5, 10, 15, 40, and 91 as well as more parking room, but the other option would be more walkable to the downtown area.

Arlington wrote:My question is narrower: Will the Hartford Line always require a change at New Haven or is there some provision for "through routing" (of what, today, would be New Haven trains or their slots) that would allow a one seat ride from Hartford to, say, Stamford, or GCT?

You'd probably get through running to Stamford like the few SLE trains do during peak periods if they can find slots for them, but like others have said, the Mafersas can't run into Grand Central nor are there suitable engines for such service so complete through running to New York isn't going to happen for the forseeable future. (I could see them addressing both issues in an equipment procurement many moons from now...but realistically that's probably a good 30 years out?)

No trough running, the New Haven is pretty much saturated, specially the turns in Stamford station.

DutchRailnut wrote:No trough running, the New Haven is pretty much saturated, specially the turns in Stamford station.

Once (if) through routing on SLE is introduced with the M-8s couldn't they use the existing SLE slots for any Hartford Line expresses?

shadyjay wrote:Regarding stations, where on earth would they put one in Hamden?

There's a long stretch of Route 5 that parallels or comes close enough to the tracks where a station would be a good fit even if they have to make it an island platform akin to the Yawkey/Fenway Park commuter rail station to avoid toucing the marsh area. The bigger issue would be where to put the parking lot. Unless they buy up one property/business or another there won't be a lot big enough for it will have to be on the west side of the tracks with the wildlife area/marsh being on the other side.

short answer no in your dreams .

Any talk of possible operators and what rolling stock would be used?

The current fleet used on Shore Line East services will become the fleet for NHV to Hartford service.then for
the extension to Springfield,if and when the M8's are cleared to run on Amtrak's 25kv wire in SLE service.

even if SLE stays Diesel, CDOT has enough Mafersa's and engines to run springfield line.
as for M-8's keep dreaming.

DutchRailnut wrote:short answer no in your dreams

DutchRailnut wrote:as for M-8's keep dreaming.

When you are being dismissive of others' dreams, i would find it useful if you were more specific. Whose dream and what element of that dream is being scoffed at here? Quoting would help ( or even a ^ to refer to a post immediately above would clarify). So would details on why, like tech, ops, or money. Thanks.

The New Haven line is saturated, running short trains to stamford takes up a slot and requires another crew, Amtrak crews can not run trains other than Amtrak on MN territory, and neither could any other railroad contracted to run Springfield service.

As for M-8's they still have not tested east of New Haven for several reasons one being that Cab/atc/ptc does not comply with NORAC rules.
a fact MN knew from first cars being assembled in Japan, the answer was NORAC will change their rules.
Well NORAC is not gone change rules on several railroads just because little ol MN does not want to comply with rules.
Testing on 25Kv should not be much of problem, but getting Amtrak crews to comply with door operation and regulations will take a miracle.
MN does not want to shop a M-8 train just because Amtrak crews break safety seals etc .